The rebel leaders attended a meeting with a "contact group" which included a former Ukrainian president, Moscow's envoy to Kiev and a representative of Europe's security watchdog, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, said earlier today.

"The consultation ended with authorities of the Luhansk and Donetsk Republics agreeing to maintain a ceasefire for their part  until the 27th," Boroday said.

Their truce will run parallel to a unilateral Ukrainian military ceasefire that was declared by President Petro Poroshenko last week.